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Both of the Eagles starting cornerbacks had to leave the game for various injuries in the first half and neither returned.

Byron Maxwell left late in the first quarter with a shoulder injury. He missed a few plays and returned. Rookie Eric Rowe was hurt in the next series to be evaluated for a head injury. He was later ruled out with a concussion.

Maxwell came back into the game and was hurt again midway through the second quarter. That left the Eagles with E.J. Biggers and Jaylen Watkins as the outside cornerbacks. Maxwell came back in for one play, but was noticeably affected by his injury and came back out of the game, this time for good.

The Eagles finished the game with Biggers and Watkins as the outside cornerbacks. Watkins was the Eagles’ fourth-round draft choice in 2014. But he was cut at the end of training camp and signed to the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad. The Eagles then signed Watkins to their 53-man roster last month after starting cornerback Nolan Carroll was lost for the season with a broken leg.

This was the first time he played defense since his return.

Bradford hit, misses a play

Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford left the game for a play on the first drive of the game when he was hit after completing a pass. Bradford was down on the ground, apparently getting his upper body looked at.

Bradford had just completed a 14-yard pass to Jordan Matthews on 3rd-and-13, getting the Eagles to the Arizona 18, when he was hit by a Cardinals defensive lineman. Bradford had already missed two games at the end of November with a concussion and injured left shoulder.

The Eagles decided not to use a timeout, so Bradford had to come out for a play. Mark Sanchez replaced him and handed the ball off to Darren Sproles, who lost three yards.

Bradford returned on the next play, but the drive stalled and the Eagles settled for a 36-yard field goal.

On that drive, Bradford threw incomplete to tight end Zach Ertz, who was hit as he dove for the ball, which fell incomplete. Ertz was evaluated for a concussion, and was cleared to return.

Little work for DeMarco Murray

The Eagles had all four running backs active for the second consecutive week as Kenjon Barner was active for the game in addition to DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles.

But Murray was didn’t get a single carry in the first half and was only on the field for two plays. Mathews started the game and was the primary ball carrier in the first half, with Sproles chances as well.

Murray did not get on the field until 9:15 remained in the second quarter. He was on the field for two plays while Mathews got a break. He didn’t get on the field again for the rest of the half.

That meant the Eagles only went with five wide receivers as Jonathan Krause was on the inactive list.

Barner has value on special teams, which is likely why he was activated over Krause.

Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox continued to make a case for the Pro Bowl as the rosters will be announced Tuesday night.

Cox had a sack in the first quarter, giving him 7.5 on the season, extending his career high of 5.5, set last season.

Ex-Eagles with Cards

The Cardinals had some familiar faces from the Eagles on their roster. The Eagles traded quarterback Matt Barkley to Arizona at the end of training camp. He has served as the Cardinals’ third quarterback, but wasn’t active in the game.

The Cardinals also have Ifeanyi Momah, whom they converted to a tight end after he played wide receiver for the Eagles in training camp in 2013 and 2014. Momah is on injured reserve.

In addition, the Cardinals have center/guard A.Q. Shipley, who was on the Eagles’ practice squad in 2010. Shipley and Cardinals coach Bruce Arians are familiar with each other as Shipley played for Arians with the Indianapolis Colts when Arians was the interim head coach in 2012.

“Tough, smart guys I like,” Arians said about Shipley. “And he finds roles. He’s a damn good center. When he had to play guard for us, he did a helluva job in Indy. He has some position flexibility.”

Arians even used Shipley once as a tight end.

“He loved the fact that I sent him out for a pass,” Arians said with a laugh. “He did a helluva job, he got double-covered. But giving him the ball, I doubt that’s going to happen.”